acesulfame potassium

What is it? Artificial sweetenerWhy is it bad? 200 times sweeter than sugar, and not able to be digested. Linked to tumors and high cholesterol.

ammonium chloride

What is it? Chemical used as additive in baking processWhy is it bad? Can aggravate certain food intolerances and cause nausea

annato

What is it? Natural coloringWhy is it bad? May cause hives and allergic reactions in some people.

artificial color

What is it? Colorants derived from coal tarWhy is it bad? Artificial colors may contain small amounts of lead and arsenic. FDA has warned that colorants may be linked to ADHD.

artificial flavor

What is it? Flavoring made from chemicalsWhy is it bad? Synthetic flavors are not natural. They are potentially harmful to people with food sensitivities and allergies.

aspartame

What is it? Artificial sweetenerWhy is it bad? Accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA. Multiple studies have linked to brain tumors.

autolyzed yeast

What is it? Used as food additive or flavoringWhy is it bad? Possible reactions are similar to MSG: headaches, dizziness, skin irritation, nausea, and allergic reactions.

azodicarbonamide

What is it? Chemical used as flour bleaching agentWhy is it bad? Used primarily in production of foam plastics. Banned in most European countries as possible cause of asthma

benzoyl peroxide

What is it? Chemical used as flour bleaching agentWhy is it bad? Mostly used to treat acne. When digested, can serve as skin irritant and exacerbate asthma

bleached flour

What is it? Bleached, instead of aged, flour to make whiteWhy is it bad? Bleaching uses peroxides that have been banned in Europe and can cause issues with asthma

bromated flour

What is it? Chemical used to strengthen flourWhy is it bad? Has been linked to cancer in multiple studies

brominated vegetable oil

What is it? Chemical used in sports drinks to protect flavorWhy is it bad? Accumulates in fatty tissue and can cause major health issues. Has been removed from Gatorade.

butter yellow

What is it? Artificial coloringWhy is it bad? Toxic and linked to liver cancer.

butylated hydroxyanisole

What is it? Chemical preservativeWhy is it bad? Controversial. BHA contains some antioxidant advantages, but has also been linked to cancer in mice.

butylated hydroxytoluene

What is it? Chemical preservativeWhy is it bad? Difficult to break down in liver, and linked to metabolism problems

calcium bromate

What is it? Chemical used to strengthen doughWhy is it bad? Linked to cancer, kidney failure, and skin eruptions

calcium disodium

What is it? Used to bind metals from food processingWhy is it bad? Linked to asthma, kidney damage, and skin irritation. Made from formaldehyde.

calcium peroxide

What is it? Used as bleaching agent for flourWhy is it bad? Banned in Europe and China

calcium propionate

What is it? Preservative and mold inhibitorWhy is it bad? Linked to irritability, restlessness, sleep issues, headache, and upset stomach in children

calcium saccharin

What is it? Artificial sweetenerWhy is it bad? Linked to cancer and banned in Europe.

calcium sorbate

What is it? Chemical used as preservativeWhy is it bad? May cause skin irritation

calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate

What is it? Chemical used as dough conditionerWhy is it bad? Can be problematic for people who are lactose intolerant

caprocaprylobehenin

What is it? Low calorie fat substituteWhy is it bad? Considered unnecessary and potentially harmful to health

carmine

What is it? Used for food coloringWhy is it bad? Skin irritant, stomach irritant, and causes hyperactivity in children.

carrageenan

What is it? Used as thickener for processed foodsWhy is it bad? Linked to stomach issues such as ulcers and inflammation.

corn syrup

What is it? Sweetener, thickenerWhy is it bad? Contains no nutritional value and is usually contained in foods that have very little nutritional value.

cyclamate

What is it? Artificial sweetenerWhy is it bad? Linked to cancer

cysteine

What is it? Used as dough conditionerWhy is it bad? Unclear what effects this may have on health.

dextrose

What is it? SweetenerWhy is it bad? Empty calories with no nutritional value. Contributes to tooth decay.

Diacetyl tartaric

What is it? Artificial flavorWhy is it bad? Linked to serious lung disease and respiratory illness

dimethylpolysiloxane

What is it? Used as anti-foaming agentWhy is it bad? This is what is used to make silly putty and cosmetics. In raw form, causes skin and eye irritation. Health effects in food are unclear

dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate

What is it? Used as thickening agentWhy is it bad? Possible laxative effects

disodium calcium

What is it? Used to bind metals from food processingWhy is it bad? Linked to asthma, kidney damage, and skin irritation. Made from formaldehyde.

disodium dihydrogen

What is it? Artificial colorWhy is it bad? High quantities can contribute to bone loss

disodium guanylate

What is it? Used as flavor enhancerWhy is it bad? Unsafe for people prone to gout and kidney stones. May cause allergic reaction in certain cases.

disodium inosinate

What is it? Used as flavor enhancerWhy is it bad? Unsafe for people prone to gout and kidney stones

ethoxyquin

What is it? Chemical used to retain colorWhy is it bad? Mostly used in animal feed. Safety for humans is unclear.

ethyl vanillin

What is it? Synthetic vanilla for flavoringWhy is it bad? Possible skin allergen

ethylene oxide

What is it? Used to sterilizeWhy is it bad? Linked to cancer

glutamic acid

What is it? Salt of an amino acid used to enhance flavorWhy is it bad? May cause headaches, tingling, dizziness, drowsiness, chest pains, palpitations, nausea, and muscle tightness. May cause severe allergic reaction.

high fructose corn syrup

What is it? Chemical used as sugar substituteWhy is it bad? Linked to obesity, increased body fat, heart disease, and tooth decay

hydrogenated

What is it? Metal-injected oilWhy is it bad? Oils that have undergone this process results in a gummy substance that is hard to move through the bloodstream. Risks involved are high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

isomalt

What is it? Sweetener made from sugarWhy is it bad? Poorly absorbed by the body

lactitol

What is it? Sweetener made from lactoseWhy is it bad? Poorly absorbed by the body. Large amounts may lead to diarrhea.

maltitol

What is it? Sweetener made from maltoseWhy is it bad? Poorly absorbed by the body. Large amounts may have a laxative effect.

mannitol

What is it? Sweetener made from sugarWhy is it bad? Poorly absorbed by the body. Large amounts may cause diarrhea and have a laxative effect.

methyl silicon

What is it? Used as anti-foaming agentWhy is it bad? In raw form, causes skin and eye irritation. Health effects in food are unclear

methylparaben

What is it? PreservativeWhy is it bad? Linked to allergic reactions

monosodium glutamate

What is it? Salt of an amino acid used to enhance flavorWhy is it bad? May cause headaches, tingling, dizziness, drowsiness, chest pains, palpitations, nausea, and muscle tightness. May cause severe allergic reaction.

natamycin

What is it? Chemical used to fight fungal and mold growthWhy is it bad? Moderately toxic. May cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

nitrates

What is it? Chemical used to correct colorWhy is it bad? Linked to cancer and lung disease.

nitrites

What is it? Chemical used to correct colorWhy is it bad? Linked to cancer and lung disease.

olestra

What is it? fat substituteWhy is it bad? Linked to abdominal cramps and irritable bowel syndrome. Adds no fat or calories to food.

partially hydrogenated

What is it? Metal-injected oilWhy is it bad? Oils that have undergone this process results in a gummy substance that is hard to move through the bloodstream. Risks involved are high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

polydextrose

What is it? Chemical used as additive and sugar replacementWhy is it bad? May have laxative effect.

potassium benzoate

What is it? Acid used as food preservativeWhy is it bad? Linked to cell damage, obesity, hyperactivity, liver and kidney issues. May exacerbate asthma.

potassium bisulfite

What is it? Sulfur used to preserve and colorWhy is it bad? May be seriously threatening to sulfite-sensitive people and people with asthma. Also linked to nausea, headaches, and hives.

potassium bromate

What is it? Chemical used to strengthen doughWhy is it bad? Linked to cancer and kidney failure.

potassium metabisulfite

What is it? Sulfur used to preserve and colorWhy is it bad? May be seriously threatening to sulfite-sensitive people and people with asthma. Also linked to nausea, headaches, and hives.

potassium sorbate

What is it? Chemical used as preservativeWhy is it bad? May cause skin irritation.

propionates

What is it? Used as preservative in breadWhy is it bad? May cause headaches.

propyl gallate

What is it? Chemical used as preservativeWhy is it bad? Linked to cancer.

propylparaben

What is it? Used as preservative in foodWhy is it bad? Paraben has been found in breast tissue, and is a concern regarding cancer. Is also an allergy concern.

saccharin

What is it? Artificial sweetenerWhy is it bad? Linked to tumor creation and was proposed as banned chemical by FDA in 1977.

salatrim

What is it? Modified fat made by NabiscoWhy is it bad? Not proven to be low calorie. Side effects may include stomach cramps and nausea.

sodium aluminum sulfate

What is it? Chemical used to aid baking powderWhy is it bad? Contains aluminum, which damages tissues in body, and is toxic over time. Dangerous to pregnant women and people with heart conditions.

sodium benzoate

What is it? Acid used as food preservativeWhy is it bad? Linked to cell damage, obesity, hyperactivity, liver and kidney issues. May exacerbate asthma.

sodium bisulfite

What is it? Sulfur used to preserve and colorWhy is it bad? May be seriously threatening to sulfite-sensitive people and people with asthma. Also linked to nausea, headaches, and hives.

sodium diacetate

What is it? Vinegar substituteWhy is it bad? Dangerous in high levels to pregnant women and people suffering from heart conditions. Is an eye irritant.

sodium glutamate

What is it? Salt of an amino acid used to enhance flavorWhy is it bad? May cause headaches, tingling, dizziness, drowsiness, chest pains, palpitations, nausea, and muscle tightness. May cause severe allergic reaction.

sodium nitrate

What is it? Chemical used to correct colorWhy is it bad? Linked to cancer and lung disease.

sodium nitrite

What is it? Chemical used to correct colorWhy is it bad? Linked to cancer and lung disease.

sodium propionate

What is it? Used as preservative in breadWhy is it bad? May cause headaches.

sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate

What is it? Used as dough conditionerWhy is it bad? Unclear what effects this may have on health.

sodium sulfite

What is it? Sulfur used to preserve and colorWhy is it bad? May be seriously threatening to sulfite-sensitive people and people with asthma. Also linked to nausea, headaches, and hives.

sorbic acid

What is it? Used as preservativeWhy is it bad? May cause skin irritation.

sorbitol

What is it? Sugar-free sweetenerWhy is it bad? Large amounts can lead to diarrhea and have a laxative effect.

sucralose

What is it? Artificial sweetenerWhy is it bad? Linked to multiple adverse stomach effects, including reduction of beneficial bacteria and the potential rejection of prescription drugs.

sucroglycerides

What is it? Food additiveWhy is it bad? Health effects are unclear.

sucrose polyester

What is it? Fat substituteWhy is it bad? The body is unable to digest or absorb this chemical compound.

sulfur dioxide

What is it? Sulfur used to preserve and colorWhy is it bad? May be seriously threatening to sulfite-sensitive people and people with asthma. Also linked to nausea, headaches, and hives.

Tagatose

What is it? Chemical sugar substituteWhy is it bad? Poorly absorbed by the body. Can cause diarrhea and nausea.

tertiary butylhydroquinone

What is it? Food additiveWhy is it bad? Linked to cancer.

tetrasodium

What is it? Used to bind metals from food processingWhy is it bad? Linked to asthma, kidney damage, and skin irritation. Made from formaldehyde.

vanillin

What is it? Synthetic vanillaWhy is it bad? Possible skin allergen. May cause headaches.

xylitol

What is it? Sugar-free sweetenerWhy is it bad? Poorly absorbed by the body. Large amounts can have a laxative effect.